332 



weeks in portions of tlie territory west of Alabama, while a snfiiciency 

 of moisture has been reported of the Atlantic States, and in many places 

 an excess of rain is observed. Eleven meteorological stations, in differ- 

 ent parts of North Carolina, show a record of rain-fall in August rang- 

 ing from 2.G0 inches in Granville to 7.80 in Mecklen burgh, and make 

 an average of 5.27 inches. Three reports from South Carolina average 

 7.15 inches, the lowest rain-fall beiug in Newberry, where iujury was 

 wrought by " heavy rains followed by drought." The average of seven 

 stations of Georgia was 4.18 inches, the lowest tecord being 2.70 at 

 Fulton, and the highest 6.50 at Washington. The range in Florida was 

 from 2.G0 inches in Duval to 23.25 in Wakulla, and the average 8.90. 

 The average of stations reported in other States is as follows : Alabama, 

 2.75 inches ; Mississippi, 2.72 inches ; Louisiana, 2.7G ; Texas, 1.44 ; 

 Arkansas, 2.70; Tennessee, 3.0G inches, the range being very wide, 1.33 

 in Montgomery to G.Ol inches in Sunlner. 



The condition of the crop, as shown by the returns received in Sep- 

 tember, in comi^arison with those of August, is as follows : 



September. August. 



Virffiuia 97 101 



North Carolina 101 99 



South Carolina 95 98 



Georgia 96 104 



Florida 92 96 



Alabama 88 107 



Mississippi 90 112 



Louisiana 86 101 



Texas 94 103 



Arkansas 78 96 



Tennessee 92 104 



Thus the prospect throughout the entire cotton area, which favored a 

 yield 5 per cent, larger than an average product, promises at the present 

 time about 9 per cent, less than an average. The increase of area over 

 last year, and the unfavorable character of the season of 1871, still 

 point to a material increase in the total crop of 1872, while the possible 

 extension of insect ravages, or the early occurrence of frost, may mod- 

 ify the present expectation. 



The only counties reporting cotton in Virginia, are Northampton, 

 Southami^ton, King and Queen, Chesterfield, Greenville, and Patrick ; 

 and in these the average of condition has declined from 101 in August 

 to 97 in September. 



Eeturns from thirty-eight counties in North Carolina average 101 in 

 September, against 97 in August. Mecklenburgh holds its August esti- 

 mate of 125, and Edgecombe has advanced from 75 to 100. Twelve re- 

 l^orts are below 100. No material loss from insects is reported. 



The average condition in South Carolina has fallen from 98 in August 

 to 95 in September. Darlington, Barnwell, Edgefield, and Fairfield 

 Counties, which together produced 90,000 bales of the crop of 18G9, av- 

 erage 9G, Darlington and Fairfield standing better than in August. 

 E-ichland, reporting 100 in August, has been visited by the caterpillar, 

 which reduces the estimate to 80. 



In August only twelve counties in Georgia, of sixty reporting, re- 

 turned condition less than 100, and the general average was 104 ; in 

 September it is replaced at 96. Insect ravages are becoming serious in 

 several counties, especially in Lee, Twiggs, Spalding, Schley, Baldwin, 

 and Marion. In Gwinnett the crop is claimed to be better than ever be- 

 fore ; that 10,000 bales are expected, 6,000 being deemed a large crop 

 prior to 18G0, this prospect being due to good culture and a liberal use 



